Lauren Alaina and Scotty McCreery joined forces for a duet on the iconic show that kickstarted their country music careers more than a decade ago. Both hailing from the American Idol Class of 2011, the alums took the stage for a performance of “When You Say Nothing At All” on a reunion special on Monday evening (May 2).
“The Great Idol Reunion:” marked the milestone 20th season of the competition series. Some of Idol’s biggest stars — Ruben Studdard, Jordin Sparks, David Cook, Kris Allen, Maddie Poppe, Laine Hardy, Willie Spence, Caleb Lee Hutchinson, Grace Kinstler, Laci Kaye Booth and others — were set to reunite on stage to celebrate the occasion.
Seconds after McCreery began singing, judge Katy Perry’s jaw dropped, astonished by the “Damn Strait” singer’s talent. Soon after, Alaina joined McCreery on stage for a smoldering performance of the iconic Alison Krauss song:
“The smile on your face lets me know that you need me/ There's a truth in your eyes saying you'll never leave me/ The touch of your hand says you'll catch me wherever I fall/ You say it best, when you say nothing at all”
Just like old times, McCreery and Alaina got to hear feedback from the celebrity judge panel. Luke Bryan applauded: “That was just amazing, guys. We’re all touring so much, us country people, we can’t ever get to see each other sing. So, I was just like, enthralled, a fan, just sitting back listening. It was really good to hear y’all.”
“Y’all were teenagers when you did this show,” host Ryan Seacrest noted, “and now, an ACM winner and a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Congratulations.”
McCreery is one of many artists included in the star-studded lineup at the iHeartCountry Festival presented by Capital One, set for May 7 in Austin, Texas. Fans can tune in and stream the 2022 iHeartCountry Festival on iHeartMedia's Country music radio stations in local markets across the country, as well as on iHeartRadio.com and the iHeartRadio app on May 7th at 8pm ET/5pm PT (7pm CT). Tickets are on sale now via Ticketmaster.com.
Watch the performance here: